Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/325

After Limerick Primate hath had two Livings vacant since his translation, one he has given of £200 a year to one of the Walton Blacks, whom he since ordained Priest, and the other to one Mr. Blennerhasset, whom they commonly call an Hottentot &hellip; the Bishop of Waterford has not only given all Livings of value in his Gift to his Brothers and Relations, but likewise his Vicar-Generalship and Registry, tho' none of them reside in the kingdom."

This scandalous state of affairs was the natural consequence of giving the high offices of the Irish Church to Englishmen. Many persons thought that this policy was necessary for the peace of Ireland in order to secure a preponderance of English influence in the House of Lords. But it had a ruinous effect on the Irish Church, for it rendered it absolutely anti-national. Many of the bishops were absentees, and were persons who would never have been tolerated in England. Digby, who was Bishop of Elphin from 1691-1700, owed his promotion to his great skill in water colours, "by which," we are told, "he recommended himself to men in power and to ladies and so was early made a Bishop." Pooley, who was Bishop of Raphoe from 1702 to 1712, only resided eighteen months out of the whole of these ten years. Fitzgerald, who was 313